U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. Rep. Don Young, Chairman

Contact:  Steve Hansen (Communications Director)  (202) 225-7749
    Justin Harclerode (Communications Assistant)  (202) 226-8767

To:  National Desk/Transportation Reporter
January 23, 2002

Aviation Security Officials Tell Congress That Significant Progress Has Been Made In Improving Air Travel Security

        Washington, D.C. - A number of significant aviation security measures have been implemented since Congress approved a landmark transportation security bill last November, but a lot of additional work needs to be done to further improve air security, aviation security experts told Congress today.

        The testimony came during a Congressional oversight hearing by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation to review the progress in the implementation of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was signed into law on November 19, 2001.

“Congress Has Ordered The Most Massive Overhaul Of Transportation Security In History” - Aviation Chairman Mica

        “Congress has ordered the most massive overhaul of aviation and transportation security in the history of our nation,” said U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), the Chairman of the Subcommittee, during his opening statement.  “January 18th was the deadline for 100 percent check baggage screening.  Hopefully, the Department of Transportation and the airlines have succeeded in meeting that deadline.”

        Mica noted that the suicide-bombing attempt by Richard Reid, who had explosive material hidden in his shoes during a recent international flight, has highlighted the need for expanded security measures.

        “Richard Reid should awaken us to the fact that our aviation security is only as strong as our weakest link,” Mica said.  “Richard Reid systematically scouted airport security measures.  If passenger screening measures cannot detect explosive materials, suicide terrorists may succeed.  We need to carefully examine what went wrong.”

Chairman Young Pledges To Assist Transportation Security Undersecretary

        U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who authored the House-passed aviation security bill with Mica, told John Magaw, the new Undersecretary of Transportation Security, “to let me know immediately if you have any problems in meeting your important goals and I’ll help make sure you get what you need to get the job done.”

        Young said he did not want Magaw to be hindered by any “bureaucratic turf wars” in his efforts to establish the new security agency and meet all of the strict deadlines included in the security legislation.

“Aviation Security Is Better Today Than Yesterday & It Will Be Better Still Tomorrow” - Undersecretary Magaw

        Undersecretary Magaw testified: “I want to assure Congress that the Department of Transportation is making and will continue to make every effort to fulfill each and every deadline contained in the statute enacted on November 19 last year.

        “In just a few months, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will have hired tens of thousands of new employees to screen passengers and baggage at 429 airports nationwide,” Magaw said.  “We will have put in place employee background screening tools in the aviation industry.  With our public and private sector partners, we will strengthen every mode of transportation based upon comprehensive security assessments.”

        Magaw further testified: “We will have overlapping, mutually reinforcing layers of security, some of which are visible, like screening stations, while other remain unseen, like intelligence, undercover work and state-of-the-art technology tools . . . The new security system will be robust and redundant, and we will be relentless in our search for improvements.  It is better today than yesterday; and it will be better still tomorrow.”

“We Are Impressed With The Diligence & Aggressiveness To Meet The Deadlines In The Act” - Inspector General Mead

        Kenneth M. Mead, the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), testified, “Since the Act was passed, overall we are impressed with the diligence and aggressiveness with which the DOT and the TSA have moved forward to meet the early deadlines included in the Act.  The formative steps taken will be key to the future success of TSA as it moves forward to execute the new law and implement the critical steps for improving transportation security.

        “However, it is important to note that the TSA is responsible for all aspects of transportation security, not just aviation security.  Currently, all modes of transportation - transit, rail, motor carriers, Coast Guard, etc. - are performing risk assessments.  In the months ahead, TSA will have to focus resources on addressing security across all modes of transportation.

        “While progress has been made, clearly the heavy lifting - installing explosives detection systems to screen all checked baggage and hiring a workforce - lies ahead.”

Aviation Security Act Background Information

        In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (Public Law 107-71) transferred responsibility for aviation security from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within DOT.  In response to concerns about checked baggage in particular, the law establishes firm deadlines for the screening of all checked baggage.

        Section 110 establishes two separate deadlines for checked baggage screening.  The first deadline - 60 days after enactment or January 18, 2002 - requires that all checked baggage be screened by some means.  The law lists four possible ways that checked baggage could be screened:

  1. A bag match program that insures that no checked baggage is placed aboard an aircraft unless the passenger who checked the bag is aboard the aircraft;
  2. Manual search, which involves opening the bag and searching by hand;
  3. Search by canine explosive detection units; and
  4. Other means or technology approved by the Under Secretary for Transportation Security.
        The second deadline is at the end of the year.  It requires the Under Secretary for Transportation Security to take all necessary actions to insure that explosive detection systems are deployed at all U.S. airports in sufficient numbers to screen all checked baggage.

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